Hair hit the floor at St. Baldrick's fundraiser

Tuesday

Mar 11, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Louise CarrollFor The Ledger

WAYNE TOWNSHIP -- St. Patrick's Day is all about wearing the green. St. Baldrick's is all about donating the green to raise money for childhood cancer research. People raise the money by getting donations to shave their heads and in some cases beards and moustaches, too.

At Saturday's event at the Wayne Township Fire Hall, Jeff Magnico's moustache raised a bundle of money. A large crowd gathered as Magnifico, 54, from Ellwood City, got ready to get his moustache shaved. The pledges kept going up, and at $140 Magnifico lost the moustache he had had since he was 16. Magnifico, a 36-year veteran of the fire department, said it felt cold and funny without his moustache.

"I did it to help Rick, my buddy and fire chief, " Magnifico said.

About 300 people, many wearing neon green T-shirts with the St. Baldrick's logo and the phrase "For the Love of Gavin," came to enjoy watching the hair hit the floor while music played.

St. Baldrick's was hosted by Rick and Shannon Meyers and their families in memory of Gavin Meyers, their son, who died shortly after his first birthday on June 27, 2008, of neuroplastoma.

"This was the fourth year for the event, and it is just extraordinary how friends and family come to this. Even early in the day there were so many people here," Shannon Myers said.

Rick Meyers, chief of the Ellwood City Volunteer Fire Department, receives love and support from his fire department.

Jason Andrews of Ellwood City, a fireman and friend of the Myers family was one of the fireman who got his head shaved.

"I saw what Rick and Shannon went through. I'm anxious to do anything I can to help," Andrews said. "All the guys from the Ellwood City fire department are here to support our chief, Rick. We are all here except one guy who is on duty at the fire station."

Josh Coulter and Heather Myers were the chairpersons of the event. Coulter, a volunteer fireman from Ellwood City, said the fireman and the community supported the event.

Sixteen fireman from the Big Knob Fire Department in New Sewickley township came as a group got their heads shaved amid many comments from their fellow firemen. Assistant chief John Murtha, who lives in New Sewickley Township, said they came because Coulter always helps with their fund raisers and they wanted to return the favor.

A lemonade stand was set up by Madison Myers, Gavin's sister, who is 9 and attends Perry Elementary School. Because Gavin was her brother it is a special time for her to be a part of the annual event. Her friend Norah West, 11, of Ellwood City, who attends Hartman elementary, helped her.

"I do it because I want to raise money to help children with cancer," Madison said.

Lee Little of Ellwood City has been at every St. Baldrick's event to get his head shaved in memory of his uncle, Earl Badger, who died of cancer in 2006.

"It was painful to watch him die. I want to do something to help," Little said.

All the volunteers who shaved heads, beards and moustaches are licensed barbers or beauticians. The barbers added to the fun and helped family and friends, who were taking photos, many to upload to Facebook, by often beginning the shaving with a Mohawk, or leaving tufts sticking out behind the ears, or tufts above the eyes to look like horns and other inventive cuts before taking it all off.

"I love to do this. There is nothing better to be than a part of this," said volunteer Katie Weisz of Ellwood, who was Gavin's aunt and helped with registrations while cradling her 2-1/2-month-old-son.

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